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Board approves $19.36M town‑operations budget, adopts $200,000 reductions and uses $140,000 of surplus to cut capital levy
Summary
The Board of Finance approved town‑operations reductions (roughly $200,000) and a reallocation of $140,000 from projected surplus to lower the capital levy, resulting in a $19,358,960 operations budget and a board vote of 5–2 to adopt the package.
On July 20 the East Hampton Board of Finance approved a package of town‑operations reductions and a reallocation of surplus that produced a town‑operations budget of $19,358,960.
After discussion of a list of roughly 18–20 proposed reductions prepared by town staff, board members agreed to a set of changes that together reduced operations by about $200,000. The list included a proposal to close or transfer the transfer‑station operation (estimated savings roughly $104,000 if outsourced), funding one police position at 0.5 of a year (saving about $40,000 in salary plus roughly $15,000 in benefits this fiscal year), a $9,000 reduction in public‑works overtime for sidewalk clearing, a $9,800 reduction in the library’s Hoopla e‑media subscription and elimination of certain stipend or OIC pay lines not currently being used.
Town staff member David (speaker 4) outlined the measures and cautioned the board about service‑continuity and contracting risks tied to closing the municipal transfer station; he said an outside vendor would need to provide the full suite of services the town currently offers. The police chief (speaker 16) said he is struggling to recruit but would accept a January fill for a position if the board guarantees funding then.
Board members also discussed drawing on projected surplus and fund balance guidance. Staff reported an anticipated year‑end net of about $800,000 and a fund balance of roughly $7.5 million (about 12–13% of the approved budget). The board voted to apply $140,000 of that projected surplus to reduce the levy transfer to capital, lowering the town’s capital‑levy requirement and producing the stated operations total. The motion passed 5–2.
Opponents and some public commenters stressed caution before closing services or reducing first‑responder support; multiple residents urged preserving senior‑center staffing and ambulance funding. The board left room for follow‑up: if the transfer‑station contracting process is not completed by year end the board said it will revisit the allocation and could seek a supplemental appropriation or other remedy.
